Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 1 of 24

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Cecillia D. Wang (Pro Hac Vice)

cwang@aclu.org
Nida Vidutis*
nvidutis@aclu.org
ACLU Foundation
Immigrants Rights Project
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 343-0775
Facsimile: (415) 395-0950

John T. Masterson, Bar #007447

Joseph J. Popolizio, Bar #017434
Justin M. Ackerman, Bar #030726
JONES, SKELTON & HOCHULI, P.L.C.
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 2700
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Telephone: (602) 263-1700
Facsimile: (602) 200-7846
jmasterson@jshfirm.com
jpopolizio@jshfirm.com
jackerman@jshfirm.com

Daniel J. Pochoda
dpochoda@acluaz.org
Brenda Muoz Furnish
bmfurnish@acluaz.org
ACLU Foundation of Arizona
3707 N. 7th Street, Suite 235
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Telephone: (602) 650-1854
Facsimile: (602) 650-1376

Attorneys for Defendant Joseph M. Arpaio in

his official capacity as Sheriff of Maricopa
County, AZ

*Application for admission pro hac vice

forthcoming
Attorneys for Plaintiffs (Additional
attorneys for Plaintiffs listed on next
page)

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Robert J. Moossy, Jr.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Steven H. Rosenbaum (NY Bar No. 1901958)
Timothy D. Mygatt (DC Bar No. 1021564)
Jennifer L. Mondino (NY Bar No. 4141636)
Paul Killebrew (LA Bar No. 32176)
Matthew J. Donnelly (IL Bar No. 6281308)
Cynthia Coe (DC Bar No. 438792)
Maureen Johnston (WA Bar No. 50037)
U.S. Department of Justice,
Civil Rights Division
Special Litigation Section
601 D Street NW, Suite 5200
Washington, DC 20004
Attorneys for the United States

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres, et al.,

Plaintiff,

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v.
Joseph M. Arpaio, et al.,
Defendant.

NO. CV 07-02513-PHX-GMS
PARTIES JOINT
MEMORANDUM RE: INTERNAL
INVESTIGATIONS

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 2 of 24

Additional Attorneys for Plaintiffs:

Andre I. Segura (Pro Hac Vice)

asegura@aclu.org
ACLU Foundation
Immigrants Rights Project
125 Broad Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 549-2676
Facsimile: (212) 549-2654

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Anne Lai (Pro Hac Vice)

alai@law.uci.edu
401 E. Peltason, Suite 3500
Irvine, CA 92697
Telephone: (949) 824-9894
Facsimile: (949) 824-0066
Stanley Young (Pro Hac Vice)
syoung@cov.com
Covington & Burling LLP
333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 700
Redwood Shores, CA 94065
Telephone: (650) 632-4700
Facsimile: (650) 632-4800
Tammy Albarran (Pro Hac Vice)
talbarran@cov.com
Lauren E. Pedley (Pro Hac Vice)
lpedley@cov.com
Covington & Burling LLP
One Front Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 591-7066
Facsimile: (415) 955-6566

Jorge M. Castillo (Pro Hac Vice)

jcastillo@maldef.org

Julia Gomez*
jgomez@maldef.org

Mexican American Legal Defense and

Educational Fund
634 South Spring Street, 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Telephone: (213) 629-2512
Facsimile: (213) 629-0266
James B. Chanin (Pro Hac Vice)
jbcofc@aol.com
Law Offices of James B. Chanin
3050 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
Telephone: (510) 848-4752
Facsimile: (510) 848-5819

*Application for admission pro hac vice

forthcoming.

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 3 of 24

Pursuant to the Courts order during a conference on May 31, 2016, the parties

jointly submit this memorandum stating their respective positions on the internal

investigations that should be conducted by an independent authority and the procedures

that should apply in such investigations. See Findings of Fact (Doc. 1677), 902-07.

Plaintiffs and the United States note that, after providing Defendants with a draft of

Plaintiffs and the United States sections of the memorandum and conducting a

telephonic conference, Defendants provided their sections of this joint memorandum late

on the date of filing and did not advise Plaintiffs that Defendants intended to include

briefing and legal argument. Plaintiffs and the United States note that the Parties have

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already had an opportunity to brief these issues in their May 27 memoranda and that

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Defendants submission is beyond the scope of the Courts direction for the instant

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memorandum. Plaintiffs and the United States respectfully request leave to file a response

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brief if helpful to the Courts consideration of the matters herein. Defendants disagree

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with Plaintiffs characterization of the timing and content of Defendants portion of the

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Joint Memorandum. If the Court allows Plaintiffs to file a responsive brief, as Plaintiffs

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request, Defendants request that the Court grant them the opportunity to file a reply to

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Plaintiffs response.

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PLAINTIFFS AND THE UNITED STATES POSITION

I.

Procedural Matters and Vesting of Independent Authority

Plaintiffs and the United States maintain that the Court-appointed Monitor should

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be authorized to conduct the internal affairs investigations that should be re-opened

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pursuant to Paragraph 903 or initiated pursuant to Paragraphs 904 or 905. In the rare case

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in which members of the Monitor team have a conflict that cannot be resolved through the

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creation or maintaining of an ethical wall (i.e., Defendants conduct in relation to 1,459

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IDs in Sergeant Knapps possession), Plaintiffs and the United States request that the

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Court appoint another independent authority, with no ties to Defendants, to conduct the

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investigation.

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Plaintiffs and the United States also maintain that the Monitor, or another

independent authority where one is appointed by the Court, should have ultimate authority

to determine discipline according to the applicable MCSO discipline matrix in cases re-

opened under Paragraph 903 or initiated under Paragraphs 904 and 905. In such cases,

Plaintiffs and the United States propose that if the Monitor (or other independent

authority, if appointed) decides that the appropriate discipline is suspension, demotion, or

termination, the employee should receive a letter notifying him or her of the proposed

discipline. The employee should then be given an opportunity to have a pre-determination

hearing before the Monitor (or independent authority, if appointed). This process will be

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adequate to protect the employees due process rights under Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v.

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Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532 (1985). After the Monitor (or independent authority, if

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appointed) imposes final discipline, employees should be afforded the right to appeal the

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final decision of the Monitor (or independent authority, if appointed) to the Maricopa

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County Law Enforcement Merit Commission (the County Merit Commission).

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Employees have a right to such an appeal under state law, which this Court may supplant

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upon a showing that the state law stands as an impediment to the enforcement of federal

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court orders or federal law. See, e.g., Missouri v. Jenkins, 495 U.S. 33, 50-53 (1990)

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(finding that a district court order imposing a tax increase to fund a desegregation plan

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contravened the principles of comity that must govern the exercise of the District Courts

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equitable discretion because the district court could have ordered the local governmental

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authority to raise the necessary revenue itself). The Monitors (or if applicable, the

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independent authoritys) findings and disciplinary decision should be presented to the

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County Merit Commission. If the County Merit Commission alters or rescinds any

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findings or discipline, Defendants should inform the Court and the other parties, and the

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Court may then determine whether the Commissions decision stands as an impediment to

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the enforcement of the Courts orders or federal law and enter any appropriate orders.

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Plaintiffs and the United States also submit that the Court should make a finding
that, for investigations to be re-done pursuant to Paragraph 903 of the Findings of Fact
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(Doc. 1677), the 180-day statute of limitations under A.R.S. 38-1110 is an impediment

to the enforcement of federal law and the Courts orders. This finding is amply supported

by the Courts previous Findings of Fact and implicit in its order that investigations found

void must be re-done. The Court should also order the County Merit Commission not to

rescind or alter investigatory findings or discipline based on the statute of limitations.

Plaintiffs and the United States submit that all findings of fact made by this Court

in the contempt proceeding (Doc. 1677), after a full evidentiary hearing, may be cited as

the basis for findings in internal investigations (i.e., Sustained, Not Sustained, Exonerated,

Unfounded) and for imposition of discipline in matters relating to these proceedings.

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For future investigations undertaken by the Monitor under Paragraph 905,1

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Plaintiffs and the United States request that the Court order procedures that authorize the

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Monitor to conduct such IA investigations and to determine discipline (with the same

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appeal procedures outlined above), and as set forth in Plaintiffs Memorandum on

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Remedies for Civil Contempt (Doc. 1684) at 8-9. However, in order to provide MCSO

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personnel with training and guidance for sustainable reform, Plaintiffs and the United

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States submit that the Court should grant the Monitor the authority to delegate those

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responsibilities to MCSO personnel in individual cases, in full or in part, with oversight

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and supervision by the Monitor. Consistent with this Courts Order of November 20,

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2014 (Doc. 795) at 18, individual members of the Monitor team who become involved in

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conducting investigations should be walled off from other members of the Monitor team.2

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As set forth in Plaintiffs Memorandum on Remedies for Civil Contempt (Doc.

1684), Plaintiffs and the United States maintain that the Monitor should have this
authority in all IA cases involving policy violations bearing on issues relating to this case,
including all potential policy violations relating to improper detentions, racial bias,
immigration enforcement, and the seizure and handling of property and evidence. The
Monitor should have authority in such cases without regard to whether the victims are
members of the Plaintiff class.
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If the Court orders that the Monitor will have the authority to conduct
investigations pursuant to paragraph 905 and to delegate those investigations to PSB in
appropriate circumstances, Plaintiffs and the United States recommend that the Court
order the Monitor to develop protocols, subject to the Courts approval, for walling off the
members of the Monitor team who will conduct investigations and make delegation
decisions.
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Plaintiffs and the United States further submit that any recently initiated IA

investigations based upon the review of newly reviewed Armendariz-related video files

(see, e.g., Doc. 1710) should be subject to the procedures ordered by the Court under

Paragraph 905.

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II.

Matters Subject to Immediate Determination of Discipline

Plaintiffs and the United States request that, as to the principals who were charged

as contemnors and therefore had an opportunity to be heard (Chief Deputy Sheridan and

Lieutenant Sousa), the Monitor or the Court immediately determine appropriate discipline

in the IA 14-542 and 14-543 cases relating respectively to commanders failures of

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supervision of Deputy Charley Armendariz and violations of the Courts preliminary

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injunction. The Courts contempt findings thoroughly address the facts underlying those

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investigations and no further investigation or process is necessary for those individuals.

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Plaintiffs and the United States also request that the Monitor or the Court

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immediately determine appropriate discipline for the making of willful false statements

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made to the Court and the Monitor by Chief Deputy Sheridan (Doc. 1677, 87, 229-30,

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326, 333-39, 348, 385, 816, 832).

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Plaintiffs and the United States also submit that all final disciplinary decisions

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reached in the internal investigations listed in Defendants spreadsheets of Armendariz-

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related investigations (Doc. 1673-1 and Doc. 1674) should be immediately examined by

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the Monitor to determine whether the facts as set forth in the IA files comport with the

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discipline imposed and the applicable MCSO discipline matrix. This process, which is

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focused on compliance with the discipline matrix in these IA cases, should not preclude

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re-investigation of any of the facts underlying these matters as set forth below and in

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Paragraph 904 of the Findings of Fact.

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III.

Prioritization of Matters for New Investigations

Plaintiffs and the United States submit that the following matters should be

prioritized for investigation by the Monitor, or another independent authority if appointed:

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A.

IA Cases 14-542 and 14-543: As to employees involved in the events

underlying these two investigations other than Chief Deputy Sheridan and Lieutenant

Sousa, these cases should be re-investigated and proper discipline imposed.

B.

Policy Violations in Mishandling of Internal Investigations:

Investigation of Chief Deputy Sheridan, Captain Bailey, Sergeant Tennyson, Detective

Zebro, and any other MCSO personnel for violations of MCSO policy in the handling of

internal investigations relating to this litigation. This should include, at a minimum:

1) The IA cases found by this Court to have been invalid, void, or deficient,

as listed in the Appendix to the United States Memorandum in

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Response to Findings of Fact (Doc. 1685).3 Priority should be given to

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an investigation of mishandling of the 14-295 and 14-541 cases relating

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to thefts and mishandling of civilian property by MCSO personnel, and

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to improper practices in IA case 14-221 including the improper grouping

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of multiple instances of misconduct and attribution of policy violations

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apparently committed by numerous individuals to a deceased deputy.

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2) The Defendants apparent failure to initiate IA investigations of the

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events of May 14, 2014 (Count Three).

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3) The handling of the investigation of the 1,459 IDs in Sergeant Knapps

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possession, including the conduct of Chief Deputy Sheridan and Captain

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Bailey, among others.

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4) The failure to investigate clear indications of retaliation against a Latino

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MCSO deputy in connection with his internal complaint of racial bias

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against fellow deputies in the IA 12-11 case. See Ex. 2521; Tr. of Sept.

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24, 2015, at 1247-58.

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5) The handling of discipline in IA case 15-22, in which Chief Deputy

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Sheridan rescinded written discipline against Deputy Hechavarria on the

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Two of the IA cases listed in Doc. 1685 were mislabeled. The reference to IA #2015541 should be 2014-541. And the case labeled as IA #2014-021 should be 2015-21.

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 8 of 24

ground that he was not the only deputy involved in the mishandling of

the property. Ex. 2062; Tr. of Sept. 24, 2015, at 1208-15.

6) Examination of the disciplinary findings in IA case 14-114, which

concerned derogatory racist comments about Mexicans made by an

MCSO detention sergeant and directed toward a Latino MCSO detention

officer. The record indicates that the allegations were improperly

categorized under the MCSO discipline matrix. See Ex. 2037, 2038; Tr.

of Oct. 27, 2015, at 3584-89.

C.

Truthfulness Violations

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1) Investigation of policy violations in connection with willfully false

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statements made to the Court and the Monitor by Chief Trombi and

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Captain Bailey. See Doc. 1677, 87, 229-30, 326, 333-39, 348, 385,

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816, 832.

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2) Investigation of any MCSO personnel who have claimed that IDs found

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in their possession, or otherwise not properly accounted for, were used

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for training purposes, to determine whether such statements were

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truthful. Id. 638.

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D.

Mishandling of the Courts Orders Relating to Preservation of

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Documents

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1) Re-investigation of the 1,459 IDs in Sergeant Knapps possession.

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2) Investigation of the handling of the 50 hard drives obtained by

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Defendants from Dennis Montgomery.

E.

Policy Violations During Recorded Stops

1) Re-investigation of IA cases 14-544 through 14-548, which involved

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traffic stops involving members of the Plaintiff class. The Court found

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deficiencies in these investigations. Id. 584-91.

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2) Re-investigation of IA case 14-785, which involved a complaint of racial

profiling in connection with a traffic stop. The IA case file also
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suggested that the MCSO investigator did not bother to contact

eyewitnesses (the passengers in the vehicle). Ex. 2784; Tr. of Oct. 28,

2015, at 3845-48.

3) Re-investigation of IA cases 14-545 (see Doc. 1677, 584-91), 14-562,

and 14-563, which involved recorded traffic stops in which the

reviewing MCSO lieutenant believed there was no apparent basis for the

stop. Ex. 2943; Tr. of Oct. 28, 2015, at 3804-05.

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F.

Theft and Mishandling of Property: Investigations into all mishandled

items of evidence/property. Priority should be given to:

1) Re-investigation of the IA 14-295 and IA-541 matters concerning former

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Deputy Cisco Perezs allegations of pocketing of items by MCSO

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Human Smuggling Unit personnel. (This investigation should

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specifically include, among other issues, the role of Officer Ralphaelita

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Montoya in connection with allegations of theft including IA 15-21 and

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IA 15-18, also listed below.)

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2) Re-investigation of IA 15-18 concerning the discovery of CDs,

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departmental reports, license plates, IDs, and a passport. The Court

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found this investigation to be invalid. Doc. 1677, 738.

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3) Re-investigation of IA 15-21 (and criminal case CIA 15-18) involving

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the possible theft of $260. The Court found this matter was improperly

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investigated. Id. 748-51.

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4) Re-investigation of cases IA 14-774 through IA 14-783, relating to IDs

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and/or license plates linked to deputies other than Deputy Armendariz.

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The Court found that these matters all involved members of the Plaintiff

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class and that the investigations were improperly abandoned by Sergeant

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Tennyson. Id. 641-47.

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5) Re-investigation of IA 14-801, which involved the improper seizure of a

license plate from a Plaintiff class member and the improper handling of

the IA investigation. Id. 720 n.40.

6) Investigation of Detective Frei for destruction of evidence (a

memorandum to Captain Bailey) in the course of an IA investigation

relating to mishandled IDs. Id. 699.

7) Re-investigation of IA case 15-22 concerning mishandling of IDs by

Deputy Hechavarria. Ex. 2062; Tr. of Sept. 24, 2015, at 1208-15.

IV.

Provision for Monitor or Parties To Raise Additional Matters for

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Investigation

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Plaintiffs and the United States request that the Court permit the parties and the

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Monitor to identify additional matters for investigation as the foregoing matters are

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investigated and facts are developed and disclosed. Plaintiffs and the United States

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request that documents relating to investigations by the Monitor be produced to the

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parties, subject to any appropriate protective orders, after the investigations are completed

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and discipline is determined.

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SHERIFF ARPAIOS POSITION

I.

INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY NOMINATION & POWERS.

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A.

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Cognizant that the Court wishes to swiftly see the appointment of an independent

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third party to oversee both new and re-opened IA investigations set forth in its Findings

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of Fact, the parties suggest the following expedited nomination procedure:

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Plaintiffs and Defendants will nominate three candidates

for the independent third party position.

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Proposed appointment procedure for the Independent Third Party.

Each candidate must have experience in both legal and law

enforcement practices, or be a retired Arizona judge, and
reside in the State of Arizona.
Each side has the right to strike two of the other sides
candidates. Plaintiffs and Defendants agree that their
strikes will be reasonable and made in good faith. Each
side will simultaneously exchange their respective strikes
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by a date and time certain as ordered by the Court.

After which, the remaining names will be submitted by the
Parties to the Court without identifying which Party
nominated the candidate. The Court will then select the
Independent Third Party.

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This procedure is an accelerated one that will permit the parties to provide the Court with
candidates from each party for the Courts consideration.

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B.
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Disciplinary powers of the Independent Third Party.

The independent third party can impose discipline pursuant to the appropriate
MCSO disciplinary matrix.4 In addition, any determination made by the independent third
party regarding the IAs ordered by the Court should be final, subject to any available
administrative and/or appellate process provided under Arizona state law.

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II.

NEW AND RE-OPENED IA INVESTIGATIONS.

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A.

New and re-opened IA Investigations to be conducted.

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1.

Sheriff Arpaios concerns regarding use of the Courts Monitor

to conduct IA investigations and impose discipline.

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While the Court has inherent power to invoke the weight of the judicial authority

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if state and local authorities, who have the primary responsibility for curing constitutional

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violations, fail in their affirmative obligations to correct constitutional violations,

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Milliken v. Bradley, 433 U.S. 267, 281 (1977), there are limits to the Courts inherent

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power to do so. Under Article III, the judicial power granted to federal courts is not an

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unconditioned authority to determine the constitutionality of legislative or executive acts.

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Planned Parenthood of Heartland v. Heineman, 724 F. Supp. 2d 1025, 1037 (D. Neb.

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2010). Injunctive relief must be tailored to the actual harm proven at trial. See Lewis v.

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Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 358 (1996). Moreover, a courts exercise of its contempt authority

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must be constrained by the principle that only the least possible power adequate to

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achieve the end proposed should be used in contempt cases. Young v. U.S. ex rel.

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Vuitton et Fils S.A., 481 U.S. 787, 801 (1987) (internal quotation marks omitted).

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As stated in Section IV(A) below, Chief Deputy Sheridan is not subject to

MCSOs disciplinary matrix.
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Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976), is instructive on this issue. At issue in Rizzo

were allegations that the Mayor, Police Commissioner of Philadelphia, and others

permitted a pervasive pattern of illegal and unconstitutional mistreatment of Philadelphia

minority citizens and other residents. Id. at 366. The district court imposed a

comprehensive program for addressing such complaints. Id. at 362-63. The Supreme

Court struck down the district courts injunction, holding that the district court had

overstepped its constitutional bounds. [T]he principles of federalism . . . play such an

important part in governing the relationship between federal courts and state governments

. . . [w]hen it injected itself by injunctive decree into the internal disciplinary affairs of

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this state agency, the District Court departed from these precepts. Id. at 380 (emphasis

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added). The Supreme Court continued:

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Where, as here, the exercise of authority by state officials is

attacked, federal courts must be constantly mindful of the
special delicacy of the adjustment to be preserved between
federal equitable power and State administration of its own
law.

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Id. at 378 (citations and quotations omitted).5 This delicate balance requires government

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to have the widest latitude in the dispatch of its own internal affairs. Id. at 378-79, citing

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Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union Local 473 A.F.L.-C.I.O. v. McElroy, 367 U.S.

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886, 896 (1961).

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The failure to protect these sovereign choices is a failure to abide by the Guarantee

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Clause in Article IV, 4, the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and

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ignores the federal judiciarys duty to preserve the healthy balance of power between the

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States and the Federal Government [designed to] reduce the risk of tyranny and abuse

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from either front. Gregory v. Ashcroft, 501 U.S. 452, 458, 463 (1991) (citations omitted)

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See also Pennhurst State School & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 106 (1984)
(It is difficult to think of a greater intrusion on state sovereignty than when a federal
court instructs state officials on how to conform their conduct to state law.); City of Los
Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 112 (1983) (jurisprudential concerns of equity, comity
and federalism sharply constrict federal judicial oversight of state law enforcement
authorities.); id. at 113 (comity counsels in favor of permitting state judiciary systems to
oversee state law enforcement practices); O'Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488, 499 (1974)
(same).
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(quoting U.S. Const. art. IV, 4).6 The overarching concern is particularly manifest here,

given that Arizona county sheriffs derive their powers directly from the Arizona

Constitution. AZ. CONST., art. XII, 3, 4 (A county sheriff occupies a constitutionally-

created, independently-elected county office with powers . . . as prescribed by law.).

Vesting final decision making authority over IA investigations in an extra-agency

authority is counter to the well-established rule that [a local government] has

traditionally been granted the widest latitude in the dispatch of its own internal affairs.

Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 378-79 (internal quotations and citations omitted); see also Missouri v.

Jenkins, 495 U.S. 33, 52 (1990) (local officials should at least have the opportunity to

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devise their own solutions to [their own] problems before intervention by a federal

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district court). Nevertheless, in a good faith effort to reconcile the Courts view of

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remedial efforts required to restore the Courts and the communitys confidence in MCSO

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processes and the required latitude afforded to MCSO in handling its internal affairs,

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Sheriff Arpaio agrees to vest such authority in an independent objective third party.

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2.

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Sheriff Arpaios concerns regarding constitutional due process

issues and the Arizonas Police Officers Bill of Rights.

Sheriff Arpaio also reiterates to the Court his constitutional due process concerns
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regarding re-opening closed IA investigations and potential issues involving future IAs.
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A threshold requirement to a substantive or procedural due process claim is the plaintiff's
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showing of a liberty or property interest protected by the Constitution. Wedges/Ledges of
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California, Inc. v. City of Phoenix, Ariz., 24 F.3d 56, 62 (9th Cir. 1994); see also Board of
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Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569 (1972); Kraft v. Jacka, 872 F.2d 862, 866 (9th Cir.
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1989). A protected property interest is present where an individual has a reasonable
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Arizona Courts have also refused to permit independent agencies to supervise and
impose discipline on County officers. In Hounshell v. White, 202 P.3d 466 (Ariz. App.
2008), the Court of Appeals of Arizona considered whether an Arizona Board of
Supervisors has power to supervise and impose discipline on employees of other
county officers, concluding it does not: The Arizona legislature knows how to expressly
grant a board of supervisors the power to supervise and impose discipline when it wishes
to do so. It has not done so with respect to deputies and employees of other county
officers, and we can only conclude that its choice in this regard was intentional. Id. at
471.
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expectation of entitlement deriving from existing rules or understandings that stem from

an independent source such as state law. Roth, 408 U.S. at 577. A reasonable

expectation of entitlement is determined largely by the language of the statute and the

extent to which the entitlement is couched in mandatory terms. Association of Orange

Co. Deputy Sheriffs v. Gates, 716 F.2d 733, 734 (9th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 466 U.S.

937, 104 S. Ct. 1909, 80 L.Ed.2d 458 (1984). Although procedural requirements

ordinarily do not transform a unilateral expectation into a protected property interest, such

an interest is created if the procedural requirements are intended to be a significant

substantive restriction on ... decision making. Goodisman v. Lytle, 724 F.2d 818, 820

10

(9th Cir.1984) (citations omitted).

11

The Ninth Circuit has found that various state statutes and city codes create

12

constitutionally protected due process rights. See Wedges, 24 F.3d at 63 (property interest

13

is created by the Phoenix City Code requiring the city to issue an operating license if a

14

coin-operated machine satisfies the regulatory definition of a game of skill); Sanchez v.

15

City of Santa Ana, 915 F.2d 424, 429 (9th Cir. 1990) (finding constitutionally protected

16

property interest in merit pay where city grievance procedure implicitly restricted the

17

City's authority to demote an employee).7

18

Similarly, Defendant Arpaio reiterates that the Arizona Police Officers Bill of

19

Rights creates federally protected constitutional rights. Arizona has codified a

20

comprehensive police officers bill of rights. A.R.S. 38-1101-1115. The purpose of

21

this statutory scheme is to provide special protections for law enforcement officers,

22

including those at MCSO, who are subject to an internal affairs investigation and/or

23

disciplinary action. See A.R.S. 38-1101(8)(c) (Law enforcement officer means [a]

24
25
26
27
28

Accord Parks v. Watson, 716 F.2d 646, 657 (9th Cir.1983) (Court held that the
criteria for vacating plotted city streets created a property interest); see also T.T. v.
Bellevue Sch. Dist., 376 Fed. Appx. 769, 771 (9th Cir. 2010) (remanding to trial court to
determine whether the Washington Administrative Code (the Code) gave T.T. a
reasonable expectation of a protected entitlement because the mandatory nature of the
Code sections created a significant substantive restriction on the school district's decision
making.).
12

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 15 of 24

nonprobationary regularly appointed and paid deputy sheriff of a county.). This statutory

scheme, in part, ensures that officers receive adequate notice of an internal investigation

(A.R.S. 38-1104(A)), the names of all individuals associated with the investigation

(A.R.S. 38-1106(A)(1)), notice of similar discipline ordered against other officers

(A.R.S. 38-1104(E)), just cause for termination (A.R.S. 1101(7), specific time limits

for conducting an IA investigation (A.R.S. 38-1110), and specific appellate rights from

a disciplinary decision (A.R.S. 38-1106, -1107). These statutes create constitutionally

protected due process rights because they stem from state law and contain particularized

standards or criteria to create a property interest. Allen v. City of Beverly Hills, 911 F.3d

10
11

367, 370 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Roth, 408 U.S. at 577; Gates, 716 F.2d at 734.
With respect to 903-905 of the Courts Findings of Fact (Doc. 1677), A.R.S.

12

38-1110 provides that an employer shall make a good faith effort to complete any

13

investigation of employee misconduct within one hundred eighty calendar days after the

14

employer receives notice of the allegation by a person authorized by the employer to

15

initiate an investigation of the misconduct. Failure to conduct an investigation within

16

one hundred eighty calendar days may result in the appeal board dismissing any discipline

17

ordered if it is determined that the employer did not make a good faith effort to complete

18

the investigation within one hundred eighty calendar days. A.R.S. 38-1110(C). In

19

addition, if an officer is successful in reversing a termination on appeal, he may be

20

awarded monetary damages and attorneys fees. See A.R.S. 38-1106(J); 38-1107(C)-

21

(E). Invalidating previous IA investigations, disciplinary decisions, and/or grievance

22

decisions by MCSO and instituting new ones in their place might violate the timeliness

23

provisions of the statutory scheme. Likewise, the new investigations outlined in 904

24

might violate the 180-day deadline where MCSO received notice of an allegation by a

25

person authorized by the employer to initiate an investigation of the misconduct. See

26

A.R.S. 38-1104(A), 38-1110.

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28

Finally, to the extent an individual exercises his or her right to appeal discipline
imposed as a result of an IA ordered by this Court to the Maricopa County Law
13

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 16 of 24

Enforcement Merit System Counsel8 or an Arizona court, and such discipline is reversed,

it is questionable whether this Court can lawfully invalidate that decision.9 See In re

Gruntz, 202 F.3d 1074, 1078 (9th Cir. 2000) (Thus, it follows that federal district courts

have no authority to review the final determinations of a state court in judicial

proceedings.) (citation omitted).10

3.

The Courts Findings of Fact should not be included in any IA

investigation ordered by the Court.

In order to accommodate the due process rights stated in the sections above, any IA
8
investigations ordered by this Court should be wholly separate, and independent from the
9
Courts Findings of Fact (Doc. 1677). Sheriff Arpaio, Chief Deputy Sheridan, Joseph
10
Sousa, and the other unnamed parties in this action were never on notice that the purpose
11
of the contempt proceedings was to conduct a fact finding investigation into the adequacy
12
of MCSOs internal affairs investigations, or the adequacy of discipline imposed as a
13
result of those investigations. [See Doc. 880 (setting forth the issues to be decided in the
14
contempt proceeding as follows: (1) failing to implement and comply with the Courts
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The Law Enforcement Merit System Counsel operates independently of Maricopa

County.
9

Pursuant to A.R.S. 38-1106, -1107, it is an individuals right to appeal

discipline imposed as a result of any IA ordered by this Court to the Arizona Superior
Court. See also A.R.S. 38-1107(A) (If a law enforcement officer is demoted or
terminated as the result of an employer reversing the decision or recommendation of a
hearing officer, administrative law judge or appeals board the law enforcement officer
may bring an action in superior court for a hearing de novo on the demotion or
termination.). If the Court orders new IAs and MCSO agrees to this process, Sheriff
Arpaio believes that any new IA resulting in a demotion or termination of an MCSO
employee would implicate this statutory provision. Moreover, because the Court and all
the parties agree that MCSOs disciplinary matrix will be applied to any findings resulting
from the new and re-opened IA investigations, Sheriff Arpaio asserts that the Arizonas
Police Officers Bill of Rights applies to any investigations ordered by the Court.
10
Accord Dubinka v. Judges of Superior Court of State of Cal. for County of Los
Angeles, 23 F.3d 218, 221 (9th Cir. 1994) (Federal district courts may not exercise
appellate jurisdiction over state court decisions.); Kelly v. Robinson, 479 U.S. 36, 47
(1986) (federal bankruptcy courts should not invalidate the results of state criminal
proceedings); see also Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413 (1923) (federal statutory
jurisdiction over direct appeals from state courts lies exclusively in the Supreme Court
and is beyond the original jurisdiction of federal courts); District of Columbia Court of
Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462 (1983) (the Rooker jurisdictional bar extends to
particular claims that are inextricably intertwined with those a state court has already
decided).
14

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 17 of 24

preliminary injunction; (2) violating discovery obligations; and (3) acting in derogation of

the Courts May 14, 2014 Order)].11

As such, the civil contemnors and others did not have a full and fair opportunity to

address the full gamut of the issues involved in the IA investigations invalidated by this

Court and future ones that the Court has contemplated in its Findings of Fact.

Specifically, the Courts Findings of Fact invalidated previous IA investigations and

suggested additional investigations on the basis that [a]n effective and honest internal

affairs policy is a necessary element of the MCSOs self-regulation and that the IAs

litigated for the court were relevant to assessing relief in the contempt proceedings.

10

[Doc. 1677 at 889]. Therefore, given that the Courts Findings of Fact regarding IA

11

investigations went to the remedy the Court would order as part of the three clearly

12

defined topics in the Courts Order to Show Cause, and were not intended to be a final

13

evaluation of the investigations themselves or the discipline to be imposed, additional and

14

independent fact finding and investigation should occur during any new IA ordered by the

15

Court.

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4.

17
18

Investigations involving MCSO command staff, invalidated by

the Courts Findings of Fact, and those that involve the interests
of the plaintiff class should be conducted by the independent
third party.

Any investigation or re-investigation of MCSO command staff suggested by the

19
Courts Findings of Fact should be conducted by the appointed independent third party
20
authority. In order to have a truly independent investigation into matters identified in the
21
Findings of Fact, the person conducting the investigation should not be the Monitor, who
22
is an agent of the Court. An inherent conflict exists if the Monitor reaches a different
23
conclusion in its investigation than the Court reached in its Findings of Fact. Accordingly,
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11

Although the Courts Findings of Fact indicates that the Court fully advised
Defendants and several non-party contemnors that the adequacy and good faith of their
investigations would be subject to the evaluation by the Parties and the Court, this topic
was not addressed in the Courts Order to Show Cause, which is the critical pleading
providing Defendants notice and opportunity to be meaningfully heard on the issues to be
litigated during these contempt proceedings.
15

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 18 of 24

in light of the due process concerns expressed in the preceding sections, any future

investigations should be entirely new investigations, based on an objective and fresh

review of the facts, and carried out by an independent authority that has absolutely no

prior involvement in the events at issue.

Sheriff Arpaio reiterates that during the May 31, 2016 hearing, the Court plainly

stated that it will carefully consider Sheriff Arpaios proposals on this issue and that to the

extent the Court and the Sheriff can arrive at an agreement, that the Court and the Sheriff

ought to make that effort. [5/31/16 RT at 75-76]. In light of the concerns raised by the

Sheriff regarding the independence of the Courts Monitor, Sheriff Arpaio believes that a

10

reasonable middle ground for the IAs that the Court is going to order as a result of its

11

Findings of Fact is that they should be performed by the independent third party.12

12

5.

13

Investigations involving other MCSO personnel should be

performed by MCSO with the Monitors supervision.

Any investigation or re-investigation not involving MCSO command staff or the

14
interests of the plaintiffs class should be performed by MCSOs Professional Standards
15
Bureau (PSB), and be completely transparent to the Courts Monitor to ensure that the
16
IA function is being carried out in a responsible manner. Pursuant to the Courts
17
recommendations, the following is Sheriff Arpaios proposed procedure for this process:
18

PSB will conduct the initial investigation, which will be

presented to Captain Stephanie Molina for findings.

19

Upon completion of the findings, the packet will be sent to

the legal liaison for Compliance to complete its quality
control check. If there is an identifiable issue that needs
PSB attention, the packet will be resubmitted to PSB.

20
21
22

25

Once approval from Compliance is obtained, the packet

will then be presented to the Appointed Authority. If the
packet relates to a sworn officer, the Appointed Authority
will be Chief Kenneth Holmes. If the packet relates to a
detention officer, the Appointed Authority will be Chief
Donald Marchand.

26

The PSB packet will be reviewed by the Appointed

23
24

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12

Of course, as stated above, this does not divest that individual of their appellate
rights under the Arizona Police Officers Bill of Rights.
16

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 19 of 24

Authority regardless of whether PSB makes a sustained or

non-sustained finding.

The Chief Deputy will make13 a final review of the

Appointed Authoritys findings.

All findings and discipline imposed by the Appointed

Authority and Chief Deputy will be reported to the
Monitor and the Court.

4
5
6
7

If the investigation is at the District level, the following procedure should be

followed:
The assigned district investigator (a MCSO command level
deputy) will perform the investigation.

8
9

Once completed, PSB will perform the quality control of

all district investigations. Additional sworn personnel
have been added to PSB to assist with the increased
caseload and quality control with district cases.

10
11

If the district investigation is not satisfactory, it will be

returned to the district for completion.

12
13

Chief Kenneth Holmes will review the

investigation and make a final determination.

14

district

All findings and discipline imposed by Chief Kenneth

Holmes will be reported to the Monitor.

15
16
B.
17
18

Use of the Courts Findings of Fact during new and re-opened IA

investigations.

As stated above, Sheriff Arpaios position on this issue is that the new IAs

19

conducted by either the independent third party or MCSO cannot rely on the Courts

20

Findings of Fact, especially when direct application of the Courts Findings of Fact may

21

implicate termination under MCSOs disciplinary matrix. Discharge of an employee

22

assumes a constitutional dimension when the employee has a property interest in

23

continued employment and, therefore, he may not be terminated without due process.

24

Gini v. Las Vegas Metro. Police Dept., 40 F.3d 1041, 1044 (9th Cir. 1994) (citing Board

25
26
27
28

13

Although Sheriff Arpaio initially suggested the complete removal of the Chief
Deputy from any involvement in the IA process, pursuant to this Courts encouragement
that the Chief Deputy continues to be involved in the IA process, Sheriff Arpaio has
modified his proposal out of respect for the Courts recommendation. [See 5/31/16 RT at
101, 103].
17

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 20 of 24

of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564 (1972)).

Application of the Courts Findings of Fact, particularly those that involve its

findings of truthfulness, to any future IA investigation would preclude any independent

investigation of facts and determination of discipline by the independent authority and

simply move straight to imposing discipline. This is not the kind of due process that the

Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit has held is required for such a significant

deprivation of a deputys property interest in continued employment at MCSO. See

Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 542 (1985) (the root requirement

of the Due Process Clause is that an individual be given an opportunity for a hearing

10

before he is deprived of any significant property interest.).

11

III.

12

NEW IAS LISTED BY PLAINTIFFS.

Plaintiffs have listed various IA investigations in Section III of their proposal that

13

this Court should order to be investigated. Without waiving any rights to challenge the

14

Courts authority to invalidate or institute new IA investigations, Sheriff Arpaio does not

15

contest the institution of any IA ordered by this Court pursuant to its Findings of Fact,

16

with the exception outlined below regarding the Chief Deputy.14 However, Sheriff

17

Arpaio cannot waive a principals right to challenge the re-opening or institution of

18

new IAs ordered by this Court based on any applicable state or federal law.

19

IV.

20

IA INVESTIGATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED INVOLVING CHIEF

DEPUTY SHERIDAN.
1.

21

The Chief Deputy is not subject to MCSOs disciplinary matrix.

The Maricopa County Attorneys Office (MCAO) recently issued a published

22
opinion stating that the Chief Deputy of MCSO is not subject to the MCSO disciplinary
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24
25
26
27
28

14

Sheriff Arpaio reiterates that any investigations ordered by the Court involving
MCSO command staff or the interests of the plaintiff class should be done by an
Independent Third Party Authority. Any investigations unrelated to the interests of the
Plaintiff class should be done by MSCO with reporting to the Courts monitor.
In addition, Sheriff Arpaio believes that this is one area that expert opinion on
whether the IA investigations suggested by the Plaintiff class are necessary because
they were improperly conducted.
18

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 21 of 24

matrices because he is an unclassified employee and that only the Sheriff can discipline

the Chief Deputy. [See MCAO Opinion No. 2016-001, attached as Exhibit A].

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority stated in MCAO Op. No. 2016-001, the Chief

Deputy will not agree to be subject to discipline pursuant to MCSOs disciplinary matrix

for any new or re-opened IA ordered by the Court.

2.

The Chief Deputy agrees to application of the disciplinary matrix

for IA 543.

Although not required, the Chief Deputy will accept the original policy violation
8
findings of Donald Vogel that Chief Michael Olson previously sustained, a suspension of
9
40 hours, (but then overturned following Chief Sheridans name clearing hearing), as
10
outlined in the Courts Findings of Fact at paragraph 435. As a gesture of goodwill, in
11
light of the Courts Findings of Fact, Chief Deputy Sheridan will accept the discipline
12
previously imposed (a suspension of 40 hours) for these findings pursuant to MCSOs
13

disciplinary matrix.15

14
*

15
DATED this 14th day of June, 2016.

16
17

By: /s/ Cecillia D. Wang

Cecillia D. Wang (Pro Hac Vice)
Andre I. Segura (Pro Hac Vice)
Nida Vidutis*
ACLU Foundation
Immigrants Rights Project

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15

While Defendants are committed to doing everything in their power to assist the
Court and Plaintiffs in resolving this case to everyones satisfaction, they note that the
Courts Findings of Fact remain unchallenged. Defendants are well aware of
Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a)(5) (A party may later question the sufficiency of the evidence
supporting the findings, whether or not the party requested findings, objected to them,
moved to amend them, or moved for partial findings.), and reserve the right to challenge
the Courts Findings of Fact in this Court or on appeal, notwithstanding any consent to, or
agreement with, the Court re-opening of old IA investigations pursuant to its Findings of
Fact, instituting new IA investigations involving members of MCSO, or involving an
independent third party to oversee these IA investigations and impose discipline.
19

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 22 of 24

1
2

Daniel Pochoda
Brenda Muoz Furnish
ACLU Foundation of Arizona

3
4
5
6
7

Anne Lai (Pro Hac Vice)

Stanley Young (Pro Hac Vice)
Tammy Albarran (Pro Hac Vice)
Lauren E. Pedley (Pro Hac Vice)
Covington & Burling, LLP

10

Jorge M. Castillo (Pro Hac Vice)

Julia Gomez*
Mexican American Legal Defense and
Educational Fund

11

James B. Chanin (Pro Hac Vice)

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Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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9

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*Applications for admission pro hac vice forthcoming

Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.
By: /s/ John T. Masterson
John T. Masterson
Joseph J. Popolizio
Justin M. Ackerman
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 2700
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Attorneys for Defendant Joseph M. Arpaio and
the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office

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Robert J. Moossy, Jr.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
Steven H. Rosenbaum
Chief, Special Litigation Section
Timothy D. Mygatt
Deputy Chief
/s/ Paul Killebrew
Jennifer L. Mondino (NY Bar No. 4141636)
Paul Killebrew (LA Bar No. 32176)
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Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 23 of 24

1
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3
4
5
6
7
8

Matthew J. Donnelly (IL Bar No. 6281308)

Cynthia Coe (DC Bar No. 438792)
Maureen Johnston (WA Bar No. 50037)
Trial Attorneys
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Special Litigation Section
601 D Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Telephone: (202) 305-3239
paul.killebrew@usdoj.gov
Attorneys for the United States

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Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715 Filed 06/14/16 Page 24 of 24

1
2

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on this 14th day of June, 2016, I caused the foregoing

document to be filed electronically with the Clerk of Court through the CM/ECF System

for filing; and served on counsel of record via the Courts CM/ECF system.

6
7

/s/ Cecillia D. Wang

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Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 1 of 7

SHERIFF ARPAIO
EXHIBIT A

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 2 of 7

ffiIurropn @oun ty ttwfiey

Brr-r- MorurcoMERY

PH. (602) 506-1 260

TDD (60 5,06-4352
FAX (602) 506-8 102

301 WESTJEFFERSON

STREET, SUITE 8OO

PHoENIX, ARIZoNA 85OO3
WVVW. MARICOPACOUNTYATTORNEY.ORG

[Government Advice

- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office - Chief Deputy]

Opinion No.20l6-001
June 14, 2016

Joseph M. Arpaio
Maricopa County Sheriff
550 W. Jackson St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
SYLLABUS:

The Maricopa County Sheriff is the appointing authority under

Arizona law for the Chief Deputy of the Maricopa County
Sheriff's Office. The Chief Deputy was lawfully appointed; his
current employment status is unclassified; and he is exempt
from the Fair Labor and Standards Act. The Chief Deputy
qualifies as a law enforcement officer under Title 38, but he is
not subject to the protections set forth in Title 38 due to his
unclassified ("at will") employment status. Similarly, the Chief
Deputy is exempted from the Law Enforcement Officers Merit
System. As an unclassified, exempt employee, the Chief
Deputy is subject to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Disciplinary Policy, GC-17, dated December 4,2013; however,
he is not subject to the discipline matrices in the policy because
they only apply to classified (exempt and non-exempt)
employees. Procedure 10 of Disciplinary Policy GC-17 applies
to the Chief eputy because it governs the discipline of
unclassified employees. Specifically, it entitles unclassified
employees to a name clearing hearing following the imposition
of certain discipline. Under Arizona law, only the appointing
authority or his designee may impose discipline on employees,
including the Chief Deputy. Finally, Arizona law specifically
requires the Chief Deputy to serve as Sheriff in the event of a
vacancy.

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 3 of 7

Sheriff Arpaio
June 14, 2016
Page 2

Dear Sheriff Arpaio

You have asked for an opinion about the legal status of the Chief Deputy
position with respect to: the Chief Deputy's employment status; whether the
Chief Deputy is subject to the Disciplinary Policy and its matrices; and a
summary of the Chief Deputy's statutory duties.

Backqround Rules and Statutes

The appointment of employees in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is

governed by the following Arizona Revised Statutes in whole or part:
S 11-401. Enumeration of officers

A. The officers of the county are:

1. Sheriff...
S 11-409. Deputies and employees: appointment

The county officers enumerated in section 11-401, by and with the

consent of, and at salaries fixed by the board, may appoint
deputies, stenographers, clerks and asslstants necessary to
conduct the affairs of their respective offices. The appointments
shall be in writing.
S 1 1-419. County salaries

. . . C. Each of the officers named in subsections A and B, other

than the board of supervisors and the county attorney, may appoint
a chief deputy who shall receive an annual salary agreed upon by
the board of supervisors and the officer appointing the deputy.
Pursuant to the above statutes, the Sheriff may appoint in writing a Chief Deputy,
subject to the consent of the Board of Supervisors, at an annual salary agreed
upon by the Sheriff and the Board. After a Chief Deputy is properly appointed,
only the Sheriff has the authority to discipline the Chief Deputy. See Hounshell v.
White, 220 Ariz. 1, 202 P.3d 466 (App. 2009) (holding that county sheriff was the
sole "appointing authority" with respect to his or her own deputies and
employees pursuant to statute which permits only the "appointing authority" to
dismiss, suspend, or reduce in rank).

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 4 of 7

Sheriff Arpaio
June 14,2016
Page 3

Also applicable to your inquiry are the following Arizona Revised Statutes
from Title 38:
S 3B-1 101 . Definitions

ln this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

. . . 8, "Law enforcement officer" means:

(a) An individual, other than a probationary employee, who is

certifed by the Arizona peace officer standards and traning board,
other than a person employed by a multi-county water conservation
district.

(b) A detention or corrections officer, other than a probationary

employee or juvenile detention offcer, who is employed by this
state or a political subdivision of this state.
(c) A nonprobationary regularly appointed and paid deputy sheriff of
a county.
(d) A nonprobationary regularly employed police officer in a city or town

s 38-1102. Peace officers bill of rlct hts : nreemnlion

A peace officers bill of rghts is established. This article does

not
preempt agreements that supplant, revise or otherwise deviate from
the provisions of this article, including written agreements between
the employer and the law enforcement officer or the law
enforcement officer's lawful representative association.

a law enforcement officer is entitled

protections set forth in the peace officers bill of rights section of Title 38.

These statutes govern whether

to

the

The Law Enforcement Officers Merit System specifically exempts the

Chief Deputy from coverage. Both the Law Enforcement Officers Merit System
Resolution Section 6 and Law Enforcement Officers Merit Rule 2.03 state:

[O]ne Chief Deputy who is designated either by statute or the

Sheriff to act and perform duties of the Sheriff during his absence
or incapacity shall be exempt from the provisions of this Resolution.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Disciplinary Policy, GC-17, dated

December 4, 2013, is also relevant to your inquiry because it applies to all
employees, regardless of classification and Fair Labor and Standards Act

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 5 of 7

SheriffArpaio
June 14, 2016
Page 4

("FLSA") status, and is attached to this opnion. Procedure 10 of the policy

specifically governs the discipline of unclassified employees and provides:

Suspension. Dengtign. .. And Dismissal of an Unclassified

Employee: An unclassified employee is not covered by a Merit
System and, therefore, shall not be granted a PDH prior to
imposing suspension, demotion, or dismissal. An unclassified
employee, will, however, be given the option of attending a Name
Clearing Hearing prior to any suspension, demotion or dismssal.

A. An unclassified employee is not obligated to attend the Name

Clearing Hearing as attendance is voluntary.

B. Any verbal or written statements made during the Name

Clearing Hearing may be used to incriminate the employee.

C. The Name Clearing Hearing will be recorded.

D. Employees may submit information in writing in addition to or
instead of attending the hearing.

E. The employee may be placed on Administrative Leave with

Pay,

as specified in this Policy.

F.

Discipline imposed is not subject to appeal to the County Merit

Commission.

Also relevant to this opinion is the Maricopa County Human Resources

Department's Employee Acknowledge Form because it is a written record of an
employee's appointment and status in Maricopa County. Accordingly, the
current Chief Deputy's form is attached.
Finally, the following statute assigns a specific duty to the Chief Deputy:
S 11-443. Vacancy in office

When a vacancy occurs in the otfice of sheriff the chief deputy shall
execute the office untilthe vacancy is filled.
Collectively, the statutes, case law, policy, and employment agreement
are relevant to your inquiry because they govern the issues presented for
analysis below.
il

of the Chief De
Emplovment Status.

Position and th Chief

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 6 of 7

Sheriff Arpaio
June 14, 2016
Page 5

The Maricopa County Sheriff, a county officer, is the appointing authority

for the Chief Deputy of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (.MCSO") and other
MCSO employees pursuant to A.R.S, SS 11-401 and 11-409. Those statutes,
along with A.R.S. S 11-419(C), authorize the Board of Supervisors to consent to
the Chief Deputy's appointment and to set his annual salary in an amount
mutually agreed upon by the Sheriff and the Board. The Maricopa County Human
Resources Depaftment's Employee Acknowledgement Form ("Acknowledgment
Form") for Gerard A. Sheridan, the current Chief Deputy, is attached to ths
opinion. Chief Deputy Sheridan signed the acknowledgment form on May 19,
2011, with an effective date of May g, 2011.
Section I of the acknowledgment form reflects compliance with the above
statutes governing the Chief Deputy's appointment, and also reflects that his
employment status is unclassified and FLSA exempt. Thus, Chief Deputy
Sheridan was lawfully appointed by the Sheriff, with the consent of the Board, on
May 9, 2011; his current employment status is unclassified; and he is exempt
from the FLSA. Under the guidance of Hounshell, the Sheriff is the appointing
authority for his office, and only he, or his designee, may dismiss or suspend the
Chief Deputy. 220 Ariz. 1,202 P.3d 466; see a/so Mann v. Maricopa County, 104
Ariz. 561, 456 P.2d 931 (1969) (holding Board of Supervisors action to terminate
judicial employees violated Arizona Constitution's distribution of powers).

The provisions of peace officers bill of rights set forth in itle

38,

specifically A.R.S. SS 38-1101 and 1102, are also relevant to the Chief Deputy's
employment status. The Chief Deputy is a law enforcement officer pursuant to
38-1101(8Xa) because he is "an individual, other than a probationary employee,
who is certified by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board. " The
Chief Deputy, however, is not covered by the peace officers bill of rights because
his agreed upon unclassified (i.e., at-will) employment status effectively
"supplants" the provisions of Title 38 in accordance with A.R.S. S 38-1102 ("This
article does not preempt agreements that supplant, revise or othenvise deviate
from the provisions of this article, including wrtten agreements between the
employer and the law enforcement officer, "). As a result, the Chief Deputy is a
law enforcement officer but his employment agreement preempts the provisions
of the peace officers bill of rights. Similarly, the Law Enforcement Officers Merit
System does not apply to Chief Deputy Sheridan's employment; the Chief
Deputy position is specifically exempted from the Merit System's coverage.
P

GC-17 and the Chief

MCSO Disciplinary Policy GC-17, dated December 4,2013, applies to the

Chief Deputy. The policy defines employee as a "person currently employed by
the Office in a classified, unclassified, full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, or
probationary status. " As the attached acknowledgement form reflects, the Chief
Deputy is an unclassified and fulltime employee of MCSO.

Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1715-1 Filed 06/14/16 Page 7 of 7

Sheriff Arpaio
June 14,2016
Page 6

As an unclassified and full-time employee, Procedure 10 of the policy

applies in the event that the Chief Deputy s subject to discipline. Among other
things, Procedure 10 specifically gives the Chief Deputy the opportunity to
participate in a name clearing hearing, authorizes administrative leave with pay,
and prohibits an appeal of any disciplinary decision. Therefore, any discipline
imposed on the Chief Deputy must comport with this procedure.
The disciplinary matrices in MCSO Disciplinary Policy GC-17 only apply to

exempt and non-exempt "regular status" MCSO employees. The policy

specifically defines "regular status" employees as the "standing an employee

receives under the applicable County Merit System when occupyng a position of
the classified service following the successful completion of the initial probation
period." ln shoil, only classified employees have "regular status". Unclassified
employees do not have "regular status" and are not subject to the disciplinary
matrices in the policy. Thus, the Chief Deputy, an unclassified employee, is not
subject to the disciplinary matrices.

V.

The Statutory Duties of the Chief Deputy

The duties of the Chief Deputy are generally subject to the discretion of
the Sheriff in executing the powers and duties assigned to him by A.R.S. Title 11,
Chapter 3, Aicle 2 Sheriff, primarily A.R.S. S 11-441, One statute, however,
applies specifically to the Chief Deputy, A.R.S. g 11-443, which provides, "When
a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff the chief deputy shall execute the office
until the vacancy is filled." As a result, unlike vacancies in other county officer
positions, the statute automatically promotes the Chief Deputy to Sheriff in the
event of a vacancy until it is filled, likely in order to ensure public safety during an
unexpected vacancy. Aside from this statute, the Chief Deputy does not have
any specific statutory duties.

Very truly yours,

MARICOPA COU NTY ATTORNEY